Mercedes-AMG EQE Offers Unparalleled Luxury in the Electric Vehicle Market

In 2021 and 2022, Mercedes-AMG introduced its electric sedans, the EQS and EQE, respectively.

Now we have AMG’s first electric SUV, the 2024 EQE, with deliveries starting this fall. It has four-wheel drive, seating for five and two electric motors that deliver 677 horsepower – more than most sports cars. The price has not yet been announced.

Its body style looks like most other mid-size luxury SUVs: smooth as a harmless jelly bean. With state-of-the-art cutting-edge technologies under the hood and in the cockpit, EQE is ushering in the golden age of electric vehicles.

A cozy look

Mercedes-Benz is in the middle of the most exciting time in its 97-year history. It makes vans with yacht-like interiors and $200,000 stealth sedans. It will soon add ChatGPT to its infotainment system and become the first German automaker to introduce Tesla Inc’s charging plug, allowing future Mercedes owners to use Tesla’s Supercharger network. (Mercedes drivers will have access to more than 12,000 chargers in North America starting in 2024.) And it has released some of the most inspiring concept cars in recent memory.

When I first saw it, EQE looked like it would fall pretty far down that list of great things. Every edge that could have made it look dynamic is instead patted on like an undefined soft pile of butter. Take away the oblong grille stamped with uprights, the oversized Mercedes three-pointed star plastered in the middle and the AMG badge on the hood, and the EQE would be hard to place.

But then I got inside. I drove it around Los Angeles like a busy parent running late for soccer practice. In a week I might be in love. Not passionate or obsessive love, but comfortable love. Not a throw. That’s why I say the EQE marks the beginning of the halcyon days of electric cars.

In particular, electric SUVs offer the largest potential market for electric vehicle manufacturers. Last year, more than half of the 25 best-selling vehicles in the United States were SUVs. But until recently, drivers looking to go electric were faced with offerings from tech startups whose vehicles lacked the refinement, quality and consistency required of — and often positioned as — priced and marketed as “luxury.” (Others like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Volkswagen ID.4 have received positive reviews, even though they’re not luxury SUVs.)

Both Audi and BMW already produced a decent electric SUV in the past year. Has been manufactured by Jaguar since 2018. Mercedes-Benz introduced the electric EQB in 2021. Now that Mercedes-AMG has added EQE, we’ve reached a happy group. The luxury electric SUV segment is booming.

Technique done right

The best thing about the EQE’s interior – and really the entire vehicle – is the large control center that Mercedes calls the MBUX Hyperscreen. I call it the best infotainment system on the market right now. It looks like a single curved screen embedded in the dashboard and stretches from A-pillar to A-pillar inside the car, but it’s actually three screens under one glass cover, making them look like one.

I loved the magic screen’s ability to bend the sun’s glare and resist marks after repeatedly hitting its surface with sticky fingers. These scores alone put it above most.

I used it to listen to the news while driving to the newsroom. I ran it through several massage and comfort settings on my way home. I looked for it on accurate, intuitive maps to get to Musso & Frank on Hollywood Boulevard and the custom leather atelier on Melrose. Of course, these functions are not new to Mercedes. But now, thanks to the new software, they’re always readily available, customized to my preferences, and placed at the top level of the computer’s screen instead of buried behind lesser-used functions. This so-called zero layer – priority icons – meant I never had to scroll through multiple screens to find the task I wanted. Bluetooth synced instantly (even the passenger has a screen that also controls the comfort of the car). There’s something delightful about making hands-free calls as you navigate the colorful corners of Beverly Hills. I think this is the only time I don’t mind talking on the phone.

Behind the steering wheel

The steering wheel is another highlight. As with the Mercedes-AMG S63 Hybrid, if you tend to shy away from new technology, you might think it’s gone overboard with the buttons. But give it a chance. I had plenty of time to think about it, because as you know, “driving in LA” is code for “sitting in traffic.” If you ever want some quality time to sit still, head east on Santa Monica Boulevard during rush hour. You have plenty of opportunities to sit still. Or kill time studying the functions of your car’s technical systems.

Wrapped in nappa leather and microfiber, with a flattened base and perforated handle, the bike features aluminum paddles to select the power return level. About 15 information and setting options can be programmed into the menus on the left side. This had the obvious advantage of being able to control almost everything in the car without moving my hands from 9 and 3.

The EQE has five driving modes that can be selected using the buttons on the steering wheel. The Sport and SportPlus were the loudest, though I used them more for their extra punch when I hit the gas pedal than for their boosted synthetic “engine” note. (You can use either the steering wheel buttons or the center display to select sound settings, including “balanced,” “sporty,” and “powerful.”)

The EQE has plenty of torque and power to hit 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 149 mph. It has active rear axle steering that improves handling and allows for a better turning radius; stability control systems minimize body roll and increase precision in turns. So it feels nimble for its size and weight. It surprised me how quickly it dropped all the other traffic when I accelerated on freeway ramps. But it generally lacks any sense of driving personality; I have yet to come across an electric car that doesn’t have one. Its electromechanical power steering reacts immediately, but it loses tangible connection with the car; although the click of the turn signals is simulated, not the result of actual mechanical action. EQE gives quick, if soulless, compliance.

Which I don’t mind at all. The family SUV must comply with the requirements. Who cares if it doesn’t make me obsessed every time I get behind the wheel? That’s what sports cars are for. The EQE delivers exactly what it promises: smooth, strong power, high-quality amenities and best-in-class infotainment. It’s the best we’ve ever seen in a luxury electric SUV. Let the good times roll.